New Living Translation

English Standard Version

1When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.

1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,

2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

3“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

4Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—

4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me. ”

6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?

7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.

8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.

9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’

10This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.

12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.

13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.

14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’

17“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Judgment for the Unbelievers

19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God.

20Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.

21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.

23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

25At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.